Department investigates student's R7.7m tender

A 23-year-old student awarded a R7.7-million tender to supply food to Limpopo schools insists her mother's senior job in the provincial education department had nothing to with it, City Press reported on Sunday.

"I got the tender because I applied," Mmaseala Kekana told the newspaper. She did not answer any more questions.

Her mother is Lily Kekana, the department's special projects manager who oversees its schools nutrition programme.

She was 23 and a student at the University of the Free State when she registered her company, Mmarekhu Retail and Supplies, in 2010.
A few months later, in 2011, she won the contract to supply food daily to more than 6 800 pupils around Mokopane.

Under investigation
Lily Kekana's brother, Mabitsela Sebelebele, was awarded a R5.6-million tender to feed pupils from nine schools around Mokopane.

"I didn't even know where she was working. I knew that she was employed by the department of education, but I don't know what she does there," Sebelebele told the paper.

Lily Kekana refused to comment to City Press. Both contracts were extended twice and lapse at the end of March.

Department spokesperson Phuti Seloba said the tenders were under investigation. – Sapa